Help with oven please - can't survive without cakes

[Shimbo]

We have recently moved and our oven is working and seems to be cooking almost everything with no problems, apart from - my nemesis - cakes! Whatever I have tried to bake, and believe me, I have tried a HOST of different recipes, ingredients, temperatures and times in the oven they turn out just appalling and practically inedible. Barely risen (despite SR flour and baking powder), floury taste, sometimes inedible and sometimes barely edible (well my toddlers seem to enjoy them). What on earth could be going wrong? Shall I get someone in to check the thermostat or something?

We recently made Yorkshire puds but they turned out perfectly, very well risen and lovely, confused?

If they're not rising it usually means the oven is too cool. Cakes are far more sensitive than other dishes. Before you call someone in, why not get hold of one of those oven thermometers that you hang from a shelf? Then you can see if there's anything really wrong.

Ummmm, if your yourkshires have risen then I would question that your oven isnt working.

You can buy those thermostates cheap enough and I bought one to see variations in oven with hot spots as def one side is hotter than the other. Mine is pretty much spot on.

Did you use a good recipe from say BBC good food? Is there something happening before you pop them in the oven? ie making the batter then straight in oven? Over mixing? Best way is to give us your recipe and talk us through yr technique.